Unlocking Potential
Kashmir’s grape sector has significant potential to emerge as a stronger contributor to the region’s horticultural economy, but unlocking that potential requires a decisive shift towards scientific and sustainable cultivation. The interaction between renowned grape expert and ‘Grape Man of India’ Anil G. Meher and growers in Ganderbal is therefore a welcome initiative.
Such farmer-scientist engagements are valuable because they bring practical expertise directly to orchards, where growers face challenges related to productivity, fruit quality, disease management, orchard practices and market returns. Scientific advice becomes meaningful when it is translated into solutions that address these field-level realities.
The emphasis on improved production techniques, regular technical guidance and institutional support should not remain confined to occasional programmes. Krishi Vigyan Kendras, SKUAST-Kashmir and financial institutions must work together to create continuous support mechanisms for grape growers. Regular demonstrations, field visits, training programmes and timely advisory services can significantly improve adoption of modern horticultural practices.
Access to affordable institutional finance is equally important. Farmers need credit not only for establishing orchards but also for modern inputs, irrigation, infrastructure, post-harvest management and quality improvement.
Kashmir’s horticulture future will increasingly depend on producing better-quality fruit while using resources efficiently and adapting to changing climatic and market conditions. Grape cultivation can become an important part of that transformation.
The real success of initiatives such as Grape Day will be measured not by the number of meetings held, but by whether scientific knowledge reaches every orchard and translates into higher yields, better quality, stronger incomes and more resilient farming communities.
